Swiss Army Knife

[4506517]

I'm thinking it would be a good idea to start carrying one.

Victorinox or Wenger? They're both the same company now.

Which model?

Why do you like that model?

 

[M29since14]

Unless you are wine drinker and carry it in a case, choose one without the cork-screw.

I have carried an "Executive" since I was a junior in high school. Don't know what I would do without it. I have several other models but rarely use them. I do like the Tinker and Super Tinker, too. (All named are Victorinox models.)

Whatever it is, I like having screwdrivers, scissors, nail file, tweezers, - and toothpick!

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

Wenger no longer makes knives under the Wenger name, but Victorinox makes some in Delemont still.

As far as which to get- Supertinker or Deluxe Tinker

I carry my custom made black scale Supertinker that I have modified with a house key in the can opener slot.

 

[rburg]

Out in the glove compartments of both jeeps I keep a Wenger. The one with the cigar cutter, thank you. Yes, I've used the scissors, screw drivers and tweezers. The knife blade is junk. The other implements make up for that.

 

[Big Stick]

You would be surprised what you can accomplish with a Swiss Army Tool. Locking blades is a nice plus as well.

 

[4506517]

I've seen a couple in stores.

The name Tinker stuck with me.

I seem to remember one called the Champion.

Mainly considering one for duty use.

For some reason I am convinced I need one with scissors.

 

[arjay]

Victorinox- got my first one almost 60 years ago

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

About 40-45 years ago there was a third company that SAK's: PUMA.

I think for standard use and fit in a blue jeans pocket the 11 to 15 function knives the best deal. I like my tinker because of the #2 Phillips screwdriver. I'm on my third or fourth, people like to walk away with them! when camping I carry a "Camper" I bought in Mexico in 1973. This knife is special to me and I carry it in a small Buck case and only when camping.

I gave my bride a similar knife on our honeymoon. I upgraded it to a 32 function version for our tenth anniversary. That got stole along with her purse shortly before our 25th anniversary. I replaced it with the monster 104 function SAK. The first SAK I gave her, she gave to our daughter, when she got married and she only carries it camping! She carries a Tinker everyday in her pocket. She is the mother of triplets and ends up using the knife all the time!

I make small emergency kits out of metal Band-aid boxes, those and every first aid kit have an Executive in them!

Victorinox makes a credit card multi tool in a couple of models. They are just Okay. In a wallet, they get sat on and won't hold up or even hold together. In a purse they have seemed to do marginal. A good medium sized 11-15 function seems to fill many more needs! I had personalized matching ones made for the 35th anniversary, mine didn't survive one year (actually more like 3 months!) Someone tried to impress me by giving me a replacement, It sits in the drawer unopened!

Most children in the extended family get an actual Swiss enlisted-mans or US Army knife at around 10 +/- a year. But, it is a Right, Tradition and Privilege reserved for Uncles! (Dates back to the loss of fathers in WWII).

Ivan

 

[Cyrano]

I've carried a Tinker since about 1966. My first fell out of my patch pocket in my fatigue pants while sitting in a helicopter in RVN. My wife sent me another which I carried untl 2002, when both the big blade and the scales were worn. I bought another which slipped out of my pocket this year and asked for, and received another for Christmas. They're miighty useful tools. There's lots of models of SAK, but I think the Tinker is the most practical. And I agree; the steel in the blades is pretty soft stuff, but the presence of all those tools make up for it.

 

[Goblin]

I like the Yeoman, but I think they stopped making it. The things I use most are the screwdrivers, scissors, ball point pen, toothpick, knife, and magnifying glass. I used to use the corkscrew a lot, but haven't drank wine in a long time now.

 

[eveled]

I carry a buck 110 on my belt, and a small victorinox tinker in my watch pocket. They compliment each other well. The scissors get the most use. They are great for trimming flies, and those plastic tag things when you buy a shirt. Nice to have the tooth pick and tweezers, and the little blade does things the buck cannot. It also comes in handy when somebody else asks to borrow a knife, and I don't want to give them my buck. @ $13 to $19 it is almost disposable.

I keep a lot of 4 way screw drivers around, so I don't really need silly screw drivers on my knife.

For reference, I spent my youth with a 4 blade victorinox in my pocket, I would open every can and, bottle cap, I could find, but found the screw driver less than satisfactory. It digs into your hand after just a few turns on a screw. I think I only got to use the corkscrew once.

Then carried a champion for a few years, that was fun, but it was too bulky when you just needed the blade. Although the magnifying glass worked very well with the tweezers, and had at least the potential to help light a fire.

If you really need a bulky knife with lots of tools that actually work, the leatherman is a much better choice.

So any victorinox that fits in your pocket is useful, the explorer looks like a good choice, it is the smallest knife that has the magnifying glass. For belt duty, go with a leatherman wave, or similar.

 

[Stirling]

I think the best SAKs are unquestionably Victorinox. I think a 3 or 4 layer knife would be versatile enough and easy to carry in a pocket. I usually carry an Explorer but have also carried the Huntsman as well as the 5 layer Ranger. I would suggest thinking about what you may need then look at the SAKs and decide which one will suit you best.

Homepage | Victorinox Swiss Army

 

[retiredbadge8091]

For my needs I've found the Victorinox Tinker to be the best EDC knife for me. I've had one in my pocket since the eighties. Very little I can't accomplish with the Tinker and a little time.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got three or four of them around here. All Victorinox as far as I know, I didn't even know anyone else made them. One of them I carry every day and use about that often for something.

I got no idea what the name or model numbers are. I tend to like the smaller simpler ones, but the one I carry has two knife blades, scissors, bottle/can openers with screwdriver blades, an awl, and a Phillips head S/D, on the bottom.

 

[Chako]

I am very partial to the SwissChamp. Lots of good tools in a still usable pocket or sheath carry size. It is a 91mm long knife. The ever popular Alox soldier comes in 93mm length. If you can find an Alox soldier with a date stamped on the blade, then it was issued for the military. Those with no dates were for civilian issue.

Take a look at this web sight that is very useful in identifying SAKs.

SAKWiki | SAKWiki

If you scroll down, you can see all the various Victorinox and now discontinued Wenger models broken down by their various lengths. You should be able to narrow down a model you would like. The variety and models are a bit mind boggling however.

Wenger is no more, being bought out by Victorinox. For a few years, Wenger knives were being produced by Victorinox. This is no longer the case as of a couple of years ago. However, Victorinox still makes a few Wenger models but using the Victorinox logo at the old Wenger plant.

 

[Murdock]

User/owner since 1968.

Lost my first one in 1973 at about 9,000 feet on the Muldrow glacier of Mt. McKinley, now Denali. Slipped out of my packet while working on an Optomis stove, and couldn't find it in the snow. Maybe with global warming I can go back and find it in about 300 years.

Replaced it with a series of Tinkers and Super Tinkers. Used them throughout my military career. I've begun carrying the SAK in one front pocket and my Benchmade Delux Mini Barrage in the other. Good tool on one side and good blade on the other.

 

[loeman]

I've had a few over the years. Right now there's one in my motorcycle tool kit. However, I've never fallen in love with them. I prefer single blade folders and a belt carried mult-tool.

 

[hangnoose]

IT HAS BEEN LOST, BUT CURRENTLY IS FOUND.

My Wenger 10 tool 1975 (counting the toothpick & tweezer) is 4 layers, app 1" thick & fine for pocket carry. The plastic is chipped, the scissor return steel is long broken/lost, the blade is worn down from sharpening I've used the corkscrew to good effect to the point that it's bent (I broke the one on the jumbo sized that I rarely used). I wish it had a file. Every tool on it has been used multiple times, mostly the awl, saw, can opener, nail file. If I'm gonna carry a tool on my belt it's my leatherman wave, a gift to me & my groomsmen at my wedding (I still have mine & use it often). The most useless tool? For me the fish scaler, who would want to clean fish scales/stink from all those nooks & crannies.

 

[Derosa]

I have had and carried one with me since 1973. I have the basic recruit one. No scissors or saw type blades. The first one lasted until the late 1990s when it was lost on a plane trip Memphis; I replaced it when I landed. It lasted until about 2009 when I broke a red side of the handle when I dropped it. I sent back for repair and Victorinox sent me a new one. My car carries a Champ in the emergency kit. Rule #9 - I never leave home without it.

 

[Donn]

I've carried various models of SAK's, both Victorinox and Wenger, for almost 50 years. In that time, I've learned less is more, tool wise. Too big and it's not a convenient pocket carry. I carry either a Pioneer or Cadet. They've got everything you need and nothing you don't. Plus, both have ALOX metal scales, so they're darn near indestructible. There are many others, but have a look at those two first.